Manufacture of lubricants



' permanently soluble in which it is compounded.

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

umrno STA 'ras MORRIS O. VAN GUNDY AND HOWARD DIMMIG, OF PORT -ARTHUR, TEXAS, AS-

" SIGNORS TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the production of 2Pb 0 1 1 000 .rbo.

This basic salt is sticky and stringy in character, it is not permanently soluble in hydrocarbon oils, it does not reduce the viscosity of lubricating oil at low temperatures and is, in fact, wholly. unsuited for use in the preparation of lubricating compounds.

When this basic salt ismixed-with the lu- .briea'ting oil considerabledificulty has been experienced in the pastdue to the fact that theinsoluble bodies settle out. v

j Superior lubricating compounds 7 may, however, be made by the use of the normal lead oleate,

sincethe normal salt is oily in character, is

oil and has the characteristic of reducing the'viscosity at low temperatures .of the ubricating stock with We have discovered that the nbrmal lead oleate may be made by reacting oleic acid and lead oxidlunder certain critical conditions as to temperature.

In accordance wlth our invention any of the oxide of lead, preferably one "of the lower oxide, and oleic acid in any suitable form, such as elaine or red oil, are mixed "together and the temperature of the ingredients is raised to from about 500 F. to 525 F., the preferred temperatures being from 520 F. to 525 F. At a temperature of about 530 F., the normal lead oleate is. decomposed-and, therefore, temperatures in. excess of: 525

peratures around 500 F. to 515 F. may be I Q employed; however,

so much reduced even at this slight reduc-- F. should not be used. Temthe rate of reaction is tion from the preferred temperature that 'such temperatures are not to be recommended and in practice we endeavor to hold the ingredients as near asmay be between 520 F. to 525 F.

MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICANTS.

Application filed October 18, 1921. Serial No. 507,551.

It is not practicable to have the materials entering into the reaction at the preferred temperature at the commencement of the operation since there would be considerable loss due to the volatilization of the elaine oil in case itwere heated originally over 500 F. The result is that there are probably certain preliminary reactions occurring at the lower temperatures while the ingredients are being raised to the'preferred tempera ture. It is very likely that the lead oxid and oleic acid react at the lower temperatures to form the basic lead oleate and steam and when a temperature of 520 F. to 525 F. is attained the basic salt is decomposed and the normal oleate formed, the reactions probably taking place about as follows:

During the heating, the ingredients are preferably agitated or stirred, the heating and agitation being continued until there is no free acid present and the resultant normal lead oleate is then allowedto cool somewhat, for example to about 200 F. after which it is mixed with lubricating oil to form the desired compound.

In lead soap lubricating compounds, such as car oils, for instance, made by priorv methods of manufacture, a greater orless quantity of insoluble material is found to be contained in the compounds'and these insoluble bodies readily settle out. These settlings may. be attributed to the use of the basic lead oleate and also to the presence of lead stearate and palmitate which are commonly found in car oils. These settlings are not'only insoluble in oil but moreover have no lubricating value. When preparing lubricating compounds in accordance with the present invention involving the use of the normal lead oleate, a homogeneous comsalt-has an unctuous quality and is itself suitable for use as a lubricant.

The normal soap also possesses erty of reducing the riswsity at low temthe propduced at low temperatures below that of the oil stock. The practice of our invention is thus particularly adapted for the production of lubricants adapted for use at cold temperatures.

Various lubricating compounds may be prepared in accordance with our invention, such for example as car oils, driving journal compounds and other lubricants. .The proportionof oleate used varies with the type of product desired. For example, summer car oils require less oleate than winter car oils. The proportion may vary from as low as 2%10%, which is the proportion ordinarily used for car oils, for instance, to the higher proportions used in the preparation of greases.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, andtherefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises heating a mixture of oleic acid and lead'oxid to approximately 520 F.525 F. thereby forming normal lead oleate and then mixing said lubricating oil.

proximately 520 F.525 F.

oleate with 2. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises agitating a mixture of oleic acid and lead oxid maintained. at approximately 520 F.525 F. and then mixing the resulting product with lubricating oil.

3. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises gradually heating a mixture of oleic acid and lead oxid to approximately 520 F.525 F., maintaining that temperature untilno free acid is present and compounding the-resulting product with lubricating oil.

4. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises gradually heating a mixture of oleic acid and lead oxid to apmaintaining that temperature until no free acid is present, then permitting the mixture to cool to a relatively lower temperature and adding lubricating oil to form a' lubricating composition. r

5. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises heating a'mixture of oleic acid and lead oxid to a temperature of at least 500 F. but not in excess of 530 F. and compounding the product formed with hydrocarbon oil.

6. The process of manufacturing lubricants which comprises heating a mixture of oleic acidand lead oxid to a temperature sufficiently high to produce a reaction resulting in normal lead oleate, but not in excess of 530 F. and thereafter mixing the said oleate with lubricating oil. c

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 3rd day of October, 1921.

MORRIS C. VAN GUNDY. HOWARD DIMMIG. 

